Is beauty defined by gender? These people prove that it isn’t

Beauty is a melting pot. No longer a single, static idea, this ever-evolving concept of ‘come as you are’ is changing cultural perceptions to show that beauty isn’t confined or defined by gender. Meet a boy who takes pride in being called beautiful, the girls who are pretty and tough and a couple for whom a split-second decision became a shared commitment and a way to challenge stereotypes.

Archana Akil Kumar, model

Dress, Kanika Goyal Label

“Coming from south India, people never made me feel bad about my skin tone. But when I started modelling, I was told I wasn’t feminine enough and I didn’t fit in. Like every other dusky or dark-skinned model, I was also told that I wasn’t pretty, that I wasn’t going to get cast for commercials. But when I started doing editorials and runways, I was immediately noticed for my long neck, my collarbones and my jawline—I was told I had a Grace Jones jaw. To be compared to a diva, to such a strong person like her, made me feel good. Today, the fashion industry is more accepting—the lines between man and woman are blurring, with both genders comfortably borrowing from each other. For me, femininity means having a balance of vulnerability and strength.”

Sushant & Rooparna Chhabria, photographer and PR

“A day before leaving for Japan on our honeymoon, we decided to take the plunge and shave our heads—together! Initially we did look crazy—strangers stopped and stared at us on the road, people took us for siblings, we even got thoroughly frisked at Tokyo airport for just being two bald people on a trip. While short hair for men has always been the norm, women have always been told that long hair is their asset. We wanted to shatter these stereotypes. Even when our hair started to grow out, we consciously decided to keep it at the same length. We use the same shampoo, we even have the same barber now. For us, true love was not only the meeting of our minds, it was also our hair.”

Justine Rae Mellocastro, model

Denim jacket, Levi’s. Turtleneck blouse, jeans; both ASOS

“I have been called a tough-looking girl pretty much all my life and I actually like it because I always want to be strong. Growing up, I was a tomboy, a complete athlete. I used to swim professionally. For me fitness was about being strong. I feel your gender just defines your physical self, not who you are. Being a hairstylist, I’ve experimented a lot with my hair—I’ve trimmed it short, buzzed it and also shaved it all off. There was a time when I had women of all ages come to me for haircuts and most of them wanted to keep their length but also wanted something different. The long length defined them as women. But today I see Indian women embracing short hair as a way to express their feeling of independence and general badassery. It’s a great time to be alive!”

Neelaksh Apte, model

Shirt, Dhruv Kapoor

“I do get called a pretty boy sometimes, but I take the tag positively. For me it refers to someone who is well groomed and takes care of his physical appearance. I don’t subscribe to the archaic concept defining ‘masculinity’ as flaunting your machismo or that real men are stoic and unemotional. Masculinity for me is about reliability, discipline and honesty. There are certain traditionally feminine traits I possess, which include being receptive, empathetic and humble. I consider these traits neutral and not exclusively feminine. Strength for me is not defined only by physical endurance. I believe your body can stand almost anything. It is your mind that you have to convince. Drive, focus and willpower are true signs of strength.”